The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) allows individuals to take unpaid leave from work and maintain their health benefits without running the risk of losing their jobs. Eligible employees can take up to 12, or in some cases up to 26, workweeks off within a 12-month period, according to certain stipulations.

1. Mindy Farber with an Overview
of the Family and Medical Leave
Act
By Mindy Farber

2. Introduction
 The Family and Medical Leave Act
(FMLA) allows individuals to take
unpaid leave from work and maintain
their health benefits without running
the risk of losing their jobs. Eligible
employees can take up to 12, or in
some cases up to 26, workweeks off
within a 12-month period, according to
certain stipulations.

3. Twelve workweeks per year can
be taken for the following
reasons: 1. The birth of a child and subsequent care
within one year of birth.
2. The placement of a child into the
employee’s care, whether through adoption
or foster care.
3. The care of a child, parent, or spouse with
a serious medical condition.
4. The care of the employee suffering from a
condition that renders him or her unable to
work.
5. An emergency situation that arises when
the employee’s spouse or a member of the
immediate family is on covered active military
duty.

4. Conclusion
 Twenty-six workweeks per year can
be claimed for military caregiver leave,
in which the employee needs to care
for a spouse, a member of the
immediate family, or the next of kin
who is in covered service and has
been seriously injured.
To learn more about the FMLA and
employees’ rights, get in touch with an
employment law attorney.

5. About the Author
 Mindy Farber, a nationally recognized
attorney practicing employment and
labor law, represents clients in matters
concerning the Family Medical Leave
Act and the Americans with
Disabilities Act, among other issues.